Category Archives: Horse

Edward Gal stormed to grand prix victory for The Netherlands on the first night of dressage at the Olympia Horse Show CDIW.

Edward claimed an early lead with 76.68% riding the hugely expressive Blue Hors Zack stallion Glock’s Zonik, who at nine years old was competing in just his third international grand prix.

It went some way to make up for the nightmare journey he had to London in adverse weather conditions, eventually driving all the way after a number of cancelled flights.

“It was worth the trip! He’s a great horse for the future and I was really happy with him tonight,” said Edward. “I just felt him coming back a little, so I sometimes rode perhaps more forward than usual.”

Having also endured a mammoth drive to reach Olympia, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel made a late bid for the win, with an excellent performance aboard the 11-year-old Dr Doolittle gelding Delaunay OLD, his partner at this year’s European Championships. They slotted into a well-deserved second with 75.1%, just ahead of Dutch rider Madeleine Witte-Vrees, who posted 73.72% with Cennin at her first Olympia.

The best Brit of the night was Emile Faurie, who produced a classy test aboard Delatio, a horse he has only ridden in two grands prix to date. The 13-year-old De Niro stallion is a real head-turner and he scored 72.86% with a mistake-free performance from first draw.

“I was absolutely thrilled and I really enjoyed it. He just has so much ability and elasticity. I rode quite carefully tonight as I don’t know him well yet – it was a bit conservative,” said Emile, who will ride his first freestyle on this horse tomorrow. “I’ve only ridden it through once at home so it’ll be a proper freestyle!”

Denmark’s Anders Dahl finished fifth with Selten HW, just fractionally ahead of Britain’s Lara Butler riding the Bechtolsheimers’ Rubin Royal 15-year-old Rubin Al Asad, who posted 72.66% with a neat, rhythmic test, just marred by a small error in the two-time changes.

The line-up features a host of champions, including some home crowd favourites

Gareth Hughes slotted into seventh with Don Carissimo, with whom he travlled to Gothenburg this summer as part of the British team, before the Don Crusador gelding had to be withdrawn due to an injury sustained just before the start of the competition. They produced a fluent, attractive performance here for 72.64%.

Richard Davison finished eighth with a very hot Bubblingh, while Hayley Watson-Greaves was 13th on Rubins Nite, after an unfortunate costly mistake in the one-time changes.

A man who was caught on CCTV attacking a horse has been given a lifetime ban from keeping equines.

Connie Mullane, 24, of Old Gloucester Road, Winterbourne, admitted causing suffering to a pony by inflicting blunt force trauma and physical violence at a hearing at Bristol Magistrates’ Court, under section four of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The horrific footage shows Mullane pick up a piece of wood before striking a pony in a trap across the face with it.

The pony can be seen flinching in pain before rearing up and showing clear signs of distress after the attack, which took place on 20 May this year.

Mullane was sentenced on 8 December to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, and given a lifetime disqualification order on keeping horses.

He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and told to pay £500 costs, plus a £115 victim surcharge.

Another superstar to emerge from the unstoppable Mullins yard, the gelding took the 2015 Champion Hurdle in emphatic style — beating his stablemates Arctic Fire into second and Hurricane Fly into third.

If you fancy yourself as a bit of a racing geek, now is the time to prove it. Take our racing quiz of 2017, and don’t forget to share your result with the world afterwards…

How did you get on? Share your results via social media and challenge your friends to see if they can do better.

Stuck for inspiration for a Christmas gift to buy a hunting enthusiast? We provide you with something for all tastes, from those with realistic expectations of what might be wrapped under the Christmas tree, to those where dreams have taken over.

Hunting tie (stock)

There are only a number of times that you can re-fold an old hunting tie in order not to show the stubborn shadows of mud that have resisted every stain remover on sale. For those people a new hunting tie is always an option… Whether it be four fold, shaped, white, cream or coloured is another matter but here are a few options available.

Hip flask tipples

A bottle of sloe gin or perhaps something slightly more peculiar such as raspberry vodka, is always welcomed by those who like to carry a hip flask on hunting days. A little bit of forward planning is required for this those that want to make a homemade version and it won’t get delivered by next day delivery, however here are a few options that can be delivered to your door.

Rubber hunting boots

These are a must for anybody who has been caught out on gate-shutting duties, when their favourite leather boots with a few cracks in have just not kept out the mud when standing in the boggiest of gateways trying to do up frayed pieces of string. Available with or without leather tops for both ladies and gents, here are a few options.

Saddle flask

Ideal for those whose hunt coat pockets are showing signs of wear and tear having suffered for years under the weight of a hip flask. Or perhaps you know somebody who owns a flask where the lid isn’t attached and has a tendency to land on the floor just as hounds start speaking. Some hip flasks simply don’t have sufficient capacity, so a saddle flask might be the only solution. Try one of these:

Breeches

They may possibly be one of the most difficult items to select as presents, but nobody can have enough pairs of hunting breeches. This is particularly the case over the Christmas period when it’s possible to hunt virtually every day of the week and hanging washing on the line to dry isn’t necessarily an option. Here are few options:

Waterproof riding mac

For those days when the heavens open a smart, waterproof riding mac to put over a hunt coat could be just the answer. Ri-dry clothing make specific hunting ones but if you are looking for one at a fraction of the cost, this one will do the trick:

Hunting stationery

The email and text message have not yet completely replaced traditional thank you letters, especially when it comes to writing to thank meet hosts for their generosity or masters of visiting packs. Hunting-themed correspondence cards are perfect for such communication. Try these:

Hunting Stock Pin

When you are hunting flat out it is easy to loose your tie pin between days, so it is always useful to have a few spare. Also, a tie pin makes a great Christmas present as the wearer can use it over and over again. Here are a couple to choose from:

Enjoy some of our favourite updates from equestrian social media channels during the past week. From a young talent to a very expensive purchase, it all happened on social media this week.

Don’t miss the exciting competition on this weekly page. Our favourite tweet each week will win either an Apatchy mini tablet case or an Apatchy cosmetic bag, personalised with your own initials.For more information about the competition and to find out who this week’s winner is, go to the bottom of this page.

Tweet of the week competition

The winner of the Horse & Hound tweet of the week competition can also be found by searching Twitter for #HHTweetOfTheWeek. The winner will receive an Apatchy mini tablet case (pictured left) or an Apatchy cosmetic bag (pictured below right), personalised with their initials.

Apatchy are designers and makers of bespoke lifestyle gifts. Their ranges include wash, cosmetic, travel and sports bags, which can be instantly personalised or customised without the need for sewing, gluing or ironing. To find out more about Apatchy’s unique personalised products and their wonderful gift wrapping service, visit www.apatchy.co.uk

Riders will be allowed to wear Exo BodyCages at British Eventing (BE) competitions after changes to body protector rules come into force next year.

From 1 January 2018, only body protectors carrying the BETA level three 2009 label, or any subsequent standard, will be allowed at BE competitions.

This raised concerns from riders who wear the Exo BodyCage that they would no longer be allowed to wear the anti-crush device in affiliated competitions because it is only approved to BETA 2000 level three standard (news, 6 October 2016). The company that designed the product ceased to exist in September 2008 with the patent donated to the Riding for the Disabled Association.

The safety device is designed to protect a rider’s chest by withstanding the weight of a horse in the event of a fall.

However a statement from BE today (7 December) confirmed the organisation will allow riders to continue to wear the product.

“Any wearer of the BodyCage should be encouraged to inspect their garment for wear and tear particularly to the foam panels and to the side fastenings,” said a statement from BE.

“Garments should not be worn if they have suffered any damage as this could seriously impair the protection offered.

“The competitor should also declare to the secretary that they will be wearing the Exo BodyCage so that officials can be alerted to this.”

Jennifer Galuszka credits the cage from saving her from serious injury in a horse fall in 2013.

She told H&H she has been in contact with BE over the matter and is “delighted” with the decision.

“I would not wish to continue eventing without wearing the Exo and am delighted at BE’s response,” she added.

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Fellow eventer Olivia Heywood thanked BE for reconsidering.

“This is very positive news as it is the only body protector specifically designed and tested [without mechanical working parts] to provide crush protection in the event of a rotational fall,” she said.

“I would not want to ride cross country without it.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

If you love racing then you need to check out the relatively new British Racing Club brand, The Winners Enclosure. Designed especially for the horse racing fan, The Winner Enclosure is a community website that provides recommended horse racing bets, betting previews and news.

The Winners Enclosure recently teamed up with the British Racing Club to run a competition to win a day out at Oliver Sherwood’s stables. The winners were treated to a handsome lunch, insightful tour and even acquired insight from the trainer himself.

Along with the tour, they also got themselves a free year’s membership to the British Racing Club, valued at £300 for the year. This gives them exclusive insight in to races from people in the game, as well as prestigious membership assets including the chance to win a share of the prize money collected by the club’s own horses.

Last seasons champion three-year old, Almanzor, fights off Magician to land the Champion Stakes.

Promotions and competitions ran by The Winners Enclosure are simple and easy to enter, you just have to keep an eye out for the latest offers. The best way is to follow their social profiles, so follow these links to join their social network – Twitter Follow @Twenclosure & Facebook Page

Not only the provider of great competitions, The Winners Enclosure also provides tips and insight from all corners of the horse racing world. This is how they’ve managed to build up such a huge social following.

If you are interested in horse racing and want to attain more insight, check out TWE today!

H&H recommends all riders (yes that includes you John Whitaker!) wear hats while mounted

Once upon a time, Olympia was an excuse for riders to let their hair down, embrace the Christmas spirit and dress up in frivolous costumes in the annual fancy dress relay.

Many riders returned year after year — John Whitaker, we’re looking at you — to entertain the crowds with their antics in the saddle. Forget the World Cup qualifier, the battle to end all battles came down to who could produce the best costume.

We take a look back through the H&H vaults to bring you some of our favourite fancy dress moments…

1. Perfect Pocahontas: AKA John Whitaker in 1985. The Yorkshireman seems to be proudly showing off his boots but we’re more impressed by the ample bosom!

2. Brace yourself for the Full Monty: Geoff Billington, John Whitaker, Nick Skelton and Michael Whitaker reveal much more than we’re used to seeing in their Chippendales tribute act.

9. The name’s Goosen. Guy Goosen. James Bond 007 is licensed to thrill the crowds in 1995

10. Marie Edgar unleashes her inner jockey and speeds round in her silks

11. He’s back! John Whitaker once again — this time in his finest leopardprint outfit. Grrrrrrr

12. And again — we know who would be the first to sign up, should the fancy dress relay ever make a comeback at Olympia. In this year, John Whitaker sports his conical bra in his Madonna tribute act on board the great (and long suffering) Randi.

People should be thinking of listening to horses rather than whispering to them – or “barking commands” – former Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden believes.

The businesswoman and lifelong horse-lover gave her personal perspective on invisible horses at last Thursday’s (30 November) World Horse Welfare annual conference, including telling the tale of her own first pony.

“Apollo, before I got him, was at a riding school and he was pretty invisible,” she said. “For a moment in his life, he was the centre of my world.

“But I don’t know what happened to Apollo because when he went out of my life, I didn’t even ask. I got my new pony.

“I cried, then two days later, I got my new pony.”

Deborah told the conference about a horse called Bo, whom she bought against the vet’s advice for “all the wrong reasons” and who was “a nightmare”.

“But there was a moment that changed me completely,” she said. “I had the pleasure of spending an hour with Monty Roberts and he said something to me that’s stuck with me ever since and it’s changed our relationship.

“When I was a little girl I was taught to command my horse. I thought I talked to my horses but I was barking commands at them. What I wasn’t doing was bothering to stop and listen, to hear what they were telling me.

“When he said that, was when me and Bo worked it out.”

Deborah said that since she and Bo have been able to enjoy this “proper communication”, the horse “is the love of my life”.

“But before she came to us, she was for sale for £10,000. By the time we got her, she was £500,” she added. “Something happened to that horse, I don’t know what.”

Deborah also talked about a promising racehorse called Fred, who suffered an injury.

“This was a horse that was well-bred, someone was proud when he was born, he was an absolute joy. He was sold as £100,000 as a three-year-old but like that, the horse became invisible to the owner, he wasn’t what they wanted.

“It’s about understanding what happens in horses’ lives and it’s about education. As a girl, I never thought about tracking what was going on with my pony after he went.”

Deborah spoke about a recent trip with charity Brooke to India, where horses were not treated well, but that it was lack of education and understanding, rather than intentional cruelty.

“But looking forward, I’ve got immense hope,” she said. “Humans are going through change and beginning to look at things in a very different way.

“Technology is a fantastic thing, and what gives me real hope is Blue Planet.

“The Blue Planet was watched by 80 million Chinese on its first night, it’s the most watched TV programme in the world. It’s changed the way I look at oceans overnight. And this is a movement throughout the world.

“People can’t care if they don’t know. Me as a girl, I didn’t know. But if you can use technology to reach people and show them what to do, of course they want to do it.